Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-04-13


sharper Of the first water. had ascer-
tanned In some way best known 10 HIM
self that the sachel contained some
thing Of considerable value, OF he new
er would have "shadowcd" its posses
sor so persistcntly. "I'll advertise IL
for the boy soon's ever we get home"
he mentally decided, and then gave his
undivided sttantion to the responsibility
consequent upon his command.
"Mr. Small" said Captain Fagg.
gravely. "have the decks cleared up.
an then let the port watch go below"
"Aye. aye. sir" answered the long
legged. ssndy-haired youth. who. in
his dual capacity Of officer and crew.
was "Mr Small" or "Eph," according
to circumstances. That is. rs "Chiei
Mate" he was addressed with tho pre-
fix Of Mr." as q member of the port
watch, which now consisted of himself
and Tad. he received his moro familiar
title Of "Eph."
Come for'ard along Of me-" said
Mr.. Small. ungrammatically and
brusquely, motioning to Tad, who was
staring at the passing tugs and vessels
In opcn-eycd amazement, and the lat
ter meekly obeyed. "Them's the lib
halyards," said Mr.. Small, reclining in
an easy posture against the foremost,
with one hand In his trousers pocket,
while with the other he pointed to the
rope In question. IAN you coil en- up
on that air pin, same rs the others is. ="
Tad having accomplished the task
satisfactorily. Mr.. Small proceeded to
point out in their several positions tho
/ jib down-haul. tho fore and main hal
yards. and peak halysrds. and the fore
and main sheets. with some instructions
rs to their several uses. showing Tad
how to coil them up properly. so that
they would be clear for letting go II
! needfuL
"There-them's all the ropcE," said
Mr.. Small, with an air Of relief
Now, all you've got to do Is learn
how to steer, an tie reef pint, an
you'll be as good sailor as anybody"
So saying, Mr. Small pulled jack
knife and piece Of single from his
pocket, and. setting down on the fore
hatch. began whiting. while Tad,
greatly surprised and considerably re-
heved TO find that the whole ART Of SEA-
manship was SO easily learned, drifted
to the rail. where he stood gazing
delightedly at the panorama spread
out before him. Crest ships, pulled BY
little painting tug-boats-with sides rusty
from a long sea-voyage-came slowly
up the harbor; while others. with loos-
ened saSs, began their outward-bound
voyage. with the chanting song Of the
sailors as an accompaniment TO the
cianking capstan. Enormous iron
steamers, handsome briggs and three
masted schooners as large as the ships
themselves, passed and repasSed, In lie
wildering succession.
81 think it's real nice to be q sailor -
said Tad. enthusiastically. 10 Polly,
who was walking the deck. followed
by the small dog. Polly had named
him Bounce. aud rs he trotted sober
ly at her heels, on a pair Of very short,
unsteady legs, he rcsembled nothing g
much as an animated bunch OF blacl
zephyr worsted.
"Oh. knew you'd like IT," was Pol
ly's confident answer. "and you'll lik,
Il all the better before the voyage 4
over"
Tad was quite delighted at this pros
pcct But II occurred to him all a
once-and for the first time-that /
the voyage should be q very long one
he was rather poorly of for clothes
Though perhaps (he thought) Captain
Flagg could stop somewhere on ii,
way and buy him few, out Of th.
wages which he was beginning to earn
"Whers IL the vessel bound to
missP" asked Tad, respectfully. being
much impressed BY the matter-of-facl
manner In which Polly. spoke Of thu
voyage that lay before them.
"WhY. away dswn Enst. to Export